PREVIEW - Crawley Town vs Port Vale

It’s the opening day of the Sky Bet League Two season and Michael Brown will lead his side into the new campaign as manager of Port Vale Football Club.

Brown was named manager following a stint as Caretaker boss at the end of the 2016/17 season and he will be looking for the perfect start.

It has been a busy pre-season at Vale Park for the Gaffer and his side, as they have rebuilt the squad, bringing in a vast amount of experience and talent in during the summer.

Port Vale will look to bounce back at the first time of asking to League One and will be hoping that journey starts with three points against Crawley Town.

The Opposition

It’s been a very similar summer at the Checkatrade Stadium this summer, as another former Premier League star has taken over the reigns in their first management job.

Former Leeds United and Liverpool winger, Harry Kewell has been given the opportunity to take charge at Crawley after learning his trade with Watford.

Kewell has had a rebuilding job with The Reds and will be hoping that he can prove the bookies wrong, with most bookmakers backing his side as one of the favourites to go down.

It will be the first time that Crawley have entertained Vale since December 2014, when on that day, goals from Michael Brown and Louis Dodds were enough for Vale to come away with three points.

to come away with three points.

Talk

Brown:

“We’re ready. It’s a new team and we’re looking to see how they gel. It’ll take a bit of time for us but we’re looking forward to it and a plan is in place.”

Kewell:

"They’ll have a point to prove, and they’ve recruited well – but I’m more interested in the way we go about things on Saturday."

Team News

Vale could be without winger Cristian Montano, as the winger picked up an injury against Chester last weekend. The Valiants will also be without Tyrone Barnett who could be missing for the next few months.

Coverage

iFollow The Vale will be providing full 90 minute commentary from the match, while the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feed will be providing live updates for the entirety.

There will also be build-up to the game with the official Snapchat account: officialpvfc.

Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.

REPORT - Crawley 1-3 Port Vale

Vale got off to the perfect start to life in League Two, as they picked up a win on the opening day away at the Checkatrade Stadium.

First goals for Michael Tonge, Antony Kay and Dan Turner were enough to see off the hosts and secure Michael Brown a win in his first game as permanent manager.

It was a quiet start to the game, with the first chance not coming until the 6th minute, when debutant Michael Tonge picked up the ball from range and tried his luck, but the effort when just over the bar.

Next time however Tonge would make it count as three minutes later, the midfielder had a free-kick which was deflected past Glenn Morris and into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Vale.

Vale didn’t stop there and continued to press to try and double the lead and Cristian Montano had an effort from a tight angle inside the box, but it went over the bar.

Crawley had their first effort on target moments later, Dannie Bulman captialised on a loose ball and drilled a shot at Rob Lainton, which went wide of the goal.

However, the Crawley pressure didn’t last long and Vale doubled their lead after 26 minutes, when that man Tonge was involved again with a free-kick crossed in and comfortably headed in by the skipper, Antony Kay.

Harry Kewell’s side looked to start a comeback and Enzio Boldewijn got it past Lawrie Wilson, then when he let rip a heroic Nathan Smith put his body on the line and blocked the shot from going towards goal.

Some excellent play from Vale in the 39th minute, Montano switched play to Harness who did ever so well, he then set it up to Wilson, who played it back to Harness and his ball found the head of Montano, but he couldn’t direct it on goal.

That was all for the first half and as the teams came out for the second period, there was a change for Michael Brown’s side, with Motnano coming off for Dan Turner.

The hosts made an early breakthrough in the second half to get a goal back, Boldewijn went on a solo run and was able to get a shot away which he fired into the bottom corner to make it 1-2.

Crawley were almost level a few minutes later, Jordan Roberts was played through and he fired an effort which skimmed the side netting.

Another chance followed in the 62nd minute. A long direct ball fell straight into the path of Lewis Young inside the box and the defender tried a first-time volley which went over the bar.

67 minutes on the clock and Crawley continued to press for the equaliser, Boldewijn was looking for the bottom corner and his second of the game, but his shot went inches wide of the post.

Crawley continued to battle and Vale soaked up the pressure and were rewarded for their super defensive display.

Marcus Harness does well down the right, he put in a great cross and it was met by Dan Turner for his first ever Port Vale goal to make it 3-1.

Vale were able to keep Harry Kewell’s side at bay for the remainder of the second half and pick a win on the road.